Battle of Chora

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Chora
partof=the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)


caption=Dutch army PzH 2000 firing on Taliban in Chora. June 16, 2007. Photo by David Axe.
date=June 15, 2007 - June 19, 2007
place= Orūzgān Province, Afghanistan
result= Coalition victory.
combatant1=Coalition: flag|Netherlands,
flag|United States,
flag|Australia,
flagicon|Afghanistan Afghan National Army,
Afghan militia
combatant2=flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban Taliban insurgents,
Bosnian volunteers [http://oruzgan.web-log.nl/uruzgan_weblog/2008/01/uruzgan_het_gev.html Uruzgan Weblog: Uruzgan: Het gevecht om Chora ] ]
commander1=flagicon|Netherlands Colonel Hans van Griensven [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ] ,
flagicon|Netherlands Lieutenant-Colonel Rob Querido [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ] ,
flagicon|Netherlands Captain Larry Hamers,
Militia leader Rosi Khan [http://oruzgan.web-log.nl/uruzgan_weblog/2008/01/uruzgan_het_gev.html Uruzgan Weblog: Uruzgan: Het gevecht om Chora ] ]
commander2=flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban Mullah Mutalib KIA [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ] ,
flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban Mullah Ismael KIA [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ]
strength1=flagicon|Netherlands 500+ soldiers,
flagicon|Afghanistan 100 police,
150-200 militia
strength2=Unknown, possibly several hundred [http://oruzgan.web-log.nl/uruzgan_weblog/2008/01/uruzgan_het_gev.html Uruzgan Weblog: Uruzgan: Het gevecht om Chora ] ]
casualties1= 2 killed (Dutch) [http://www.icasualties.org/oef/Afghanistan.aspx Operation Enduring Freedom: Coalition Deaths ] ] ,
1 killed (United States),
16 killed (Afghan police)cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Over 100 die in southern Afghan battle |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-06-18-afghanistan-airstrike_N.htm |work= |publisher= [http://www.usatoday.com/ www.usatoday.com] |date=2007-06-19 |accessdate=2007-07-04 ]
casualties2= 71 killed [http://www.icasualties.org/oef/default.aspx Operation Enduring Freedom: Coalition Fatalities ] ]
casualties3= 65 civilians killed [http://www.icasualties.org/oef/default.aspx Operation Enduring Freedom: Coalition Fatalities ] ]

The so-called Battle of Chora took place in and around the town of Chora (3,000 inhabitants), in Afghanistan's Orūzgān Province, between June 15 and June 19, 2007. The fighting was between ISAF and Afghan forces on one side and Taliban forces on the other for the control of the Chora District, regarded by the Taliban as a tactical target because it provides road access to the provincial capital of Tarin Kowt. According to some press, the fighting was the largest Taliban offensive of 2007 in Afghanistan, and resulted in the death of one Dutch soldier, 16 Afghan soldiers, and an unknown number of Taliban and civilians. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Afghan officials: Over 100 killed in southern battle |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/06/19/afghanistan.clashes.ap/index.html |work= |publisher= [http://edition.cnn.com/ www..cnn.com/] |date=2007-06-19 |accessdate=2007-07-04 ] .

Prelude

Oruzgan province, along with neighboring Kandahar and Helmand provinces in southern Afghanistan, is part of the Taliban's traditional Pashtun tribal stronghold. NATO's ISAF mission took over authority for Afghanistan from the US-led coalition in August 2006, resulting in 1,400 Dutch soldiers replacing some 150 US troops at the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Oruzgan's provincial capital, Tarin Kowt, and other bases. In addition to co-located Afghan battalions, there is an Australian element under Dutch command and contributions from other NATO allies may be provided in 2008. Oruzgan is only 2/3 the size of the Netherlands, but the Dutch presence has been challenged to provide security to areas the it patrols regularly. Thus the Dutch quickly reverted to an "inkspot policy" whereby they focused their attention on only Oruzgan's three population centres.

Dutch activities include setting up checkpoints, some which were near the strategic town of Chora. There were 100 Afghan police in Chora. [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ]

Dutch troops were working in Chora on projects such as a school, a mosque and a bridge, following up on civilian construction projects initiated by the US. [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ] 60 Dutch troops were deployed in Chora [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article439853.ece/Ze_schoten_een_magazijn_op_me_leeg ‘Ze schoten een magazijn op me leeg’ - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ] , led by captain Larry Hamers of the Regiment Stoottroepen Prins Bernhard.

The battle

June 15

On Friday evening June 15 some shooting took place near Chora. [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ] .In the morning of that day a Dutch convoy in Tarin Kowt was attacked by a suicide bomber, killing a Dutch soldier [http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timo_Smeehuijzen#Nederlandse_slachtoffers Timo Smeehuijzen] and several Afghan civilians.

June 16

A U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt II spotted a group of 60 persons moving to Chora. Dutch troops at Chora were informed, but the group was not attacked, due to uncertainty over their identity and intentions. [http://oruzgan.web-log.nl/uruzgan_weblog/2008/01/uruzgan_het_gev.html Uruzgan Weblog: Uruzgan: Het gevecht om Chora ] ]

Shortly after, three Afghan police posts (Kala Kala, Nyazi and Sarab) on the road linking Chora to Tarin Kowt came under coordinated attack. [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ] by a large number of Taliban fighters (the Dutch press claim "800" Taliban fighters, though the source of this number cannot be verified. Dutch troops in Chora moved to the aid of the Afghan police posts Kala Kala and Nyazi.

The Taliban captured Sarab police post, killed two brothers of the commander of the post, and also cut off the hands of the wife of a captured policeman who was forced to watch the dismemberment before being beheaded himself. That afternoon, the Dutch withdrew from checkposts Kala Kala and Nyazi, allowing the Taliban to capture these posts as well.

The Dutch troops reassembled near the Chora district building and contacted their commander, Colonel Hans van Griensven in Kamp Holland near Tarin Kowt, for instructions. Griensven ordered them to [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article439853.ece/Ze_schoten_een_magazijn_op_me_leeg ‘Ze schoten een magazijn op me leeg’ - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ] stay and fight.

ISAF aircraft provided support and attacked the Taliban, and scouts reported that 30 "Bosnian" [http://oruzgan.web-log.nl/uruzgan_weblog/2008/01/uruzgan_het_gev.html Uruzgan Weblog: Uruzgan: Het gevecht om Chora ] ] volunteers, led by indiviuals nicknamed Kaka and Sadam, were gathered inside a farm at the village Qual Eh-Ye-Ragh. An Apache helicopter fired two Hellfire-missiles at the farm, killing the "Bosnians" and civilians inside.

Rosi Khan, a local tribal militia leader with shifting loyalties, offered 150-200 of his fighters to support the defense of Chora. The Dutch and Chora village leaders accepted Khan's offer reluctantly as the village leaders had to arm Khan's fighters (aware that Khan might later change sides again and turn the weapons on them). [http://oruzgan.web-log.nl/uruzgan_weblog/2008/01/uruzgan_het_gev.html Uruzgan Weblog: Uruzgan: Het gevecht om Chora ] ] A body of Dutch and Australian troops at Kamp Holland near Tarin Kowt moved to Chora, commanded by LTC Rob Querido. The Australian troops deployed in Baluchi valley, between Tarin Kowt and Chora, to secure the key road.

Also on Saturday June 16 US Staff Sergeant Roy P. Lewsader was killed when his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Tarin Kowt.

June 17 and June 18

On Sunday June 17 and Monday June 18 the Dutch reinforcements arrived from Kamp Holland and a second Dutch base in Deh Rahwod, increasing the number of Dutch troops at Chora to 500. [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ] 50 Afghan Army reinforcements also arrived by Chinook helicopters. [http://oruzgan.web-log.nl/uruzgan_weblog/2008/01/uruzgan_het_gev.html Uruzgan Weblog: Uruzgan: Het gevecht om Chora ] ] Taliban fighters, who had gained control of most of the residential areas, forced civilians to fight with them or face execution. The Taliban also used civilian homes as shelter, but were still attacked by NATO aircraft, causing civilian casualties. As fighting continued, many Taliban fighters were killed.

At one time the six Dutch F16s deployed in Afghanistan were in the air attacking ground targets assigned by the infantry. [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article439853.ece/Ze_schoten_een_magazijn_op_me_leeg ‘Ze schoten een magazijn op me leeg’ - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ]

On the night of Sunday June 17 to Monday June 18, during the loading of an 81-mm mortar, which was deployed in the courtyard of the Chora district building, a shell exploded inside the launch tube, killing Dutch Sergeant-Major Jos Leunissen and wounding three other Dutch troops. [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ]

June 19

At 9:30 am, NATO briefly withdrew the aircraft supporting fighting at Chora, but air support was restored at 09:40 when COL Van Griensven threatened to withdraw the six Dutch F-16s from NATO command. [http://oruzgan.web-log.nl/uruzgan_weblog/2008/01/uruzgan_het_gev.html Uruzgan Weblog: Uruzgan: Het gevecht om Chora ] ] At 10:00 Dutch and Afghan troops, together with Rosi Khan's militia, made a big push called "Operation Troy", in which they recaptured the three lost checkpoints. [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article438392.ece/Infanteristen,_commando_s_iedereen_vecht_tegen_Taliban Infanteristen, commando’s: iedereen vecht tegen Taliban - Binnenland - de Volkskrant ] ]

Videos

Elsevier videos

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQreYKSUdfQ - Low level fly-by of F16
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV3ozt3xTxU - Scouts destroy Taliban truck
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEqv6gNG0sQ - Counter-attack on Kala Kala, part 1
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anCUTpC0xP4 - Counter-attack on Kala Kala, part 2Video publisher: http://www.elsevier.nl/nieuws/nederland/artikel/asp/artnr/186228/zoeken/ja/index.html

Other videos

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQT3wmnnVFA - Suicide attack on Dutch convoy on June 15.
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct1uOjhuUuE - Dutch PzH-2000 at Kamp Holland firing on Taliban near Chora on June 16

References

External links

*cite news |first= |last=Associated Press |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Over 100 Militants, Civilians and Police Killed In Massive Afghan Battle |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,284052,00.html |work= |publisher= [http://www.foxnews.com/ www.foxnews.com] |date=Monday, June 18, 2007|accessdate=2007-07-03

*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=‘Chora-crisis’ zet hele missie in Uruzgan onder druk |url= http://www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article727575.ece/Chora-crisis_zet_hele_missie_in_Uruzgan_onder_druk nl|work= |publisher= [http://www.nrc.nl/ www.nrc.nl] (NRC)|date=June 22, 2007 |accessdate=2007-07-04